Cai Wencheng: Deeply Understanding the Decisive Significance and Historical Inevitability of the "Two Establishes"

The Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party over the Past Century, adopted at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, explicitly states: "The Party has established Comrade Xi Jinping’s core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and defined the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. This reflects the common will of the Party, the armed forces, and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups, and is of decisive significance for advancing the cause of the Party and the country in the New Era and for driving forward the historic process of national rejuvenation." The "Two Establishments" are a vivid manifestation of the Marxist theory of party building, a major historical conclusion drawn from the CPC’s century of struggle, and an important political achievement of theory and practice in the New Era. They possess rich political connotations, a deep foundation in practice, and far-reaching decisive significance.

Comprehensively Understanding the Scientific Connotation of the "Two Establishments"

The "Two Establishments" represent the historical choice, the inevitable requirement, and the fundamental guideline for the development of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era. To comprehensively understand the scientific connotation of the "Two Establishments," one must grasp the political implication of General Secretary Xi Jinping as the "guide" and "backbone" ^[1] of the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and understand the theoretical essence of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the "ballast stone" and "compass" for the development of the cause of the Party and the country.

The leadership core: Establishing the "guide" and "backbone."

Just as a majestic range of ten thousand mountains must have a main peak, and a ceremonial robe ^[2] is managed by grasping its collar, "without authority, there can be no concerted action." A political leader is the symbol of core and authority, determining the developmental attributes of a country and the direction of social progress. The fundamental purpose of establishing a leadership core is to form a cohesive ideological force and an organizational centripetal force for the unified action of social members, thereby uniting all members of society around the leadership core to strive toward a specific social goal and program of struggle. The Party's establishment of Comrade Xi Jinping’s core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole is a choice made by history, by the people, and by practice. As the "guide" and "backbone" of the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics, General Secretary Xi Jinping has been tested by history and practice and has won the heartfelt support of the people through his firm faith and convictions, extraordinary political wisdom, profound concern for the people, deep theoretical cultivation, strong sense of mission and responsibility, excellent spiritual qualities, and broad international vision.

The great journey of national rejuvenation calls for a guide. A strong and powerful leadership core can consolidate the Chinese people to build a great modern socialist country and give full play to the enthusiasm and initiative of the masses in the practice of socialist modernization and the great cause of national rejuvenation. As the core of the Party Central Committee and the whole Party, General Secretary Xi Jinping, based on the reality of our country's current stage of development and the changes in the principal contradiction in Chinese society ^[3], has comprehensively mapped out the timetable, roadmap, and construction plans for pursuing the path of Chinese-path modernization, providing a direction for progress and a guide for action for the Party and hundreds of millions of people to unite as one and forge ahead with fortitude. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the cause of the Party and the country has achieved historic achievements and undergone historic transformations. This is inseparable from the Party's overall leadership and is inseparable from General Secretary Xi Jinping, as the core of the Party Central Committee and the whole Party, setting the course and navigating the ship. Under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, we organized and implemented the largest and most intensive poverty alleviation battle in human history, achieved the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects on schedule, historically resolved the problem of absolute poverty, and completed a feat of poverty reduction unparalleled in human history. To realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, we must unite closely around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core to ensure that our country’s modernization construction always moves forward in the right direction.

The guiding ideology: Establishing the "ballast stone" and "compass."

Scientific theory is the summary of historical experience and the reflection of practical development; it can grasp the pulse of the times, lead the development of the era, and answer the questions of the times. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping has proposed a series of original new concepts, new ideas, and new strategies for state governance, scientifically answering the "three major questions of the times" ^[4] from both theoretical and practical perspectives, forming Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. "Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is contemporary Chinese Marxism and 21st-century Marxism. It embodies the best of Chinese culture and the spirit of our times and represents a new breakthrough in the Sinicization of Marxism." As the latest achievement in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era has made original contributions to enriching and developing Marxism and historical contributions to activating the vitality of fine traditional Chinese culture; it is the "ballast stone" and "compass" for the development of the cause of the Party and the country.

Marx pointed out in his Introduction to A Contribution to the Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right: "The weapon of criticism cannot, of course, replace criticism of the weapon, material force must be overthrown by material force; but theory also becomes a material force as soon as it has gripped the masses." Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is the ideological weapon for the CPC's governance in the New Era and the ideological guide for realizing the people's aspiration for a better life. Establishing the guiding position of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era means clarifying its important status and significant role within the country's fundamental systems and the Party’s guiding ideology, adopting it as the guide for action for the entire Party and society in the struggle to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Adhering to the guiding position of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era means consciously using it to arm our minds and guide our practice. This is an inevitable requirement for persisting in and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics and an objective necessity for realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Systematically Grasping the Inevitable Logic of the "Two Establishments"

The "Two Establishments" embody the political logic of the CPC as the highest force for political leadership in the country, the theoretical logic of the CPC as a Marxist party, the historical logic of the CPC’s century of struggle, and the practical logic of the CPC uniting and leading the people of all ethnic groups across the country in advancing modernization.

The political necessity of the "Two Establishments."

In the Manifesto of the Communist Party, Marx and Engels pointed out: "The Communists are distinguished from the other working-class parties by this only: 1. In the national struggles of the proletarians of the different countries, they point out and bring to the front the common interests of the entire proletariat, independently of all nationality. 2. In the various stages of development which the struggle of the working class against the bourgeoisie has to pass through, they always and everywhere represent the interests of the movement as a whole." The Communist Party is the leadership core of the proletariat and a political organization armed with Marxist theory. Chinese Communists, on the basis of inheriting the Marxist-Engels theory of the proletarian party, emphasize the importance of a leadership core and scientific theory. The CPC is the world's largest Marxist ruling party, possessing a vast organizational system and a large number of members. To fully utilize the CPC’s advantages as a vanguard and its strengths in organizational mobilization, it is necessary to achieve unity in thought and action throughout the Party and society through a leadership core and scientific theory. The "Two Establishments" embody the nature, purpose, and value pursuits of the CPC. They are a major political judgment based on the interaction between history and reality, theory and practice. They are an important sign of the maturity of a proletarian party and the fundamental basis for the development of a Marxist party, fully demonstrating the political consciousness and self-confidence of a century-old party.

The theoretical necessity of the "Two Establishments."

The proposal of the "Two Establishments" is built upon the foundation of historical materialism and shines with the light of Marxist truth. On the one hand, Marxism holds that the masses are the creators of history and the decisive force in social change; at the same time, it recognizes the enormous influence of great figures on historical development. Historical materialism tells us that the influence of different individuals on historical development varies; great historical figures stand higher and see further than the average person, allowing them to act in accordance with historical trends and to lead changes in the tide of the times. General Secretary Xi Jinping is the leadership core of the CPC in the New Era, the helmsman of the country, and the guide of the people. On the other hand, Marxism holds that social existence determines social consciousness, but social consciousness can also react upon social existence. Scientific theory has a guiding role for social practice, and the proletariat must always arm itself with the most advanced theory. Engels pointed out: "Our Party has one great advantage: its theoretical basis is a new, scientific world outlook." Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is the latest achievement of the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism, the latest summary of theory and practice in the New Era, and the ideological weapon for maintaining the Party’s advanced nature and purity. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, persisting in strengthening the Party through theory and adhering to theoretical innovation while continuously advancing the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism to achieve a new breakthrough has been the Party’s theoretical consciousness and theoretical necessity.

The historical necessity of the "Two Establishments."

History is the best textbook. The Hungarian scholar Lukács believed that, in the final analysis, for Marxism there are no independent sciences of law, political economy, history, etc., but only a single, unified—historical and dialectical—science of the development of society as a totality. Looking across the 500-year history of socialism and the century-long struggle of the CPC, a strong leadership core and scientific theoretical guidance have been important guarantees for the victory of the socialist revolution and construction. From its birth until the Zunyi Meeting ^[5], the CPC failed to form a mature Central Committee or establish a leadership core, which was the key factor in the Party’s cause suffering repeated setbacks. The Zunyi Meeting formed the first generation of the Party's collective central leadership with Comrade Mao Zedong at its core, clarified the Party's leadership core, and unified the thoughts and actions of the entire Party, ultimately enabling the Chinese revolution to turn peril into safety. The Seventh National Congress of the CPC formally established the guiding position of Mao Zedong Thought, and the entire Party achieved unprecedented unity, laying a solid foundation for the final victory of the New Democratic Revolution. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, facing complex domestic and international environments for development, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has united and led the entire Party and people of all ethnic groups to overcome many long-standing problems and accomplish many major and long-term tasks, pushing the Party's theoretical and practical innovation to a new stage. It can be said that the "Two Establishments" are the concrete manifestation in the New Era of the Party’s fine tradition of emphasizing the establishment and maintenance of its leadership core, the summary of the Party’s century-long historical experience, and an important "magic weapon" ^[6] for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

The practical necessity of the "Two Establishments."

Following our own path is the historical conclusion drawn from the Party’s century of struggle. In the ten years of the New Era, the Party Central Committee has made strategic deployments and achieved practical brilliance in various fields, including internal affairs, diplomacy, national defense, reform, development, stability, and the governance of the Party, the state, and the military. This has fully proven in practice the crucial role of General Secretary Xi Jinping as the core of the Party Central Committee and the whole Party, and the power of truth within Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. As the core of the Party, the leader of the people, and the commander-in-chief of the military, General Secretary Xi Jinping has comprehensively coordinated the overall strategic situation of the development of the cause of the Party and the country and actively maintained the overall situation of economic development and social stability. As the guiding ideology for the entire Party, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era has scientifically answered the questions of China, the world, the people, and the times, and explained China's path, governance, and logic, pointing the way for managing and strengthening the Party and advancing Chinese-path modernization in the New Era. The Party's guiding ideology reflects the primary thoughts of the leadership core and serves as the theoretical basis for upholding General Secretary Xi Jinping’s core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole. In short, the "Two Establishments" are not only a major political achievement but also a major political principle; they are not only a historical conclusion but also a contemporary practice.

Deeply Grasping the Decisive Significance of the "Two Establishments"

The "Two Establishments" are the primary prerequisite for the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era. They determine the nature and direction of the Great Struggle, Great Project, Great Cause, and Great Dream ^[7], the overall situation of the development of the Party and the country, and the historical process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

On the "new journey to take the exams" ^[8], the "Two Establishments" are the fundamental basis for our Party to navigate through risks and challenges and to guide the direction of socialist modernization.

The "Two Establishments" determine the victory of the Great Struggle.

The great struggle depends on a core command and theoretical guidance. Currently, the overall strategic situation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the world’s unprecedented changes in a century are intertwined and influencing one another. On the journey toward realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, risks and challenges are long-term, complex, and severe; the situation and circumstances are multi-directional, volatile, and diverse. The domestic tasks of reform, development, and stability are arduous and heavy; risks and contradictions are becoming increasingly prominent, and uncontrollable factors have increased significantly. These manifest the new characteristics of the complexity and comprehensiveness of the great struggle. In conducting the great struggle, the primary issue is ensuring the correct direction, which requires the guidance of a leadership core and scientific theory. Marx noted: "In every social epoch, as Helvétius says, if such a man is not available, then the epoch invents him." General Secretary Xi Jinping’s position as the core of the Party Central Committee and the core of the whole Party is precisely the inevitable result of social transformation and development in the New Era, as well as the inevitable requirement for promoting social transformation and continuous progress. He plays the role of planning the overall situation, leading the direction in responding to major challenges, resisting major risks, overcoming major obstacles, and resolving major contradictions. At the same time, the actions of any political party require theoretical guidance; a guiding ideology serves as the spiritual banner and action manual for the Party in responding to risks and challenges. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is an important ideological weapon for solving problems, addressing risks, and resolving contradictions in contemporary China. It systematically answers the major epochal questions faced during development in the New Era and serves as a scientific guide for conducting the great struggle and advancing Chinese-path modernization from a new historical starting point.

The "Two Establishments" determine the fate of the great project.

The great project requires core leadership and theoretical armament. Placing high importance on the Party's self-construction ^[9] is a key factor in the great achievements made by the Communist Party of China (CPC) during revolution, construction, and reform; it is also an important reason why the CPC has always stood at the forefront of the times despite the tests of storms and waves. The "Two Establishments" are a summation of the experience of Party building and comprehensively and strictly governing the Party, as well as the historical conclusion of the Party's century of struggle. To advance the new great project of Party building, one must establish and uphold the Party’s leadership core to effectively guarantee the authority and centralized, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee. Otherwise, the Party would only become weak and lax, making it difficult to form a cohesive force of solidarity, and it might even lose its political direction. The "Two Establishments" emphasize the dominant role of the leadership core and the guiding role of scientific theory in Party building; they constitute the highest principle for strengthening the Party's overall leadership and the fundamental compliance for improving the Party's long-term governing capacity. Establishing a leadership core is conducive to enhancing the Party’s organizational unity, while establishing scientific theoretical guidance is conducive to achieving the Party’s ideological unity. Unwaveringly upholding General Secretary Xi Jinping’s position as the core of the Party Central Committee and the core of the whole Party, and persisting in using Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as a guide, are the core tenets of building the great project in the New Era.

The "Two Establishments" determine the development of the great cause.

The great cause relies on a core at the helm and an ideological compass. Only socialism can save China, and only socialism with Chinese characteristics can develop China—this is the answer and conclusion drawn from our Party’s century of history. The path concerns the Party's lifeblood, the country’s future, the nation’s destiny, and the people’s happiness. The path of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the only way to realize socialist modernization and to create a better life for the people. The "Two Establishments" constitute a political choice based on the basic national conditions: that the CPC is a large party and our country is a large socialist power. As the world’s largest political party governing a large country with a population of over 1.4 billion for the long term, the CPC leads the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics and builds a modern socialist power. There is no ready-made experience to follow and no standard answer to choose. There must be a strong leadership core at the helm and a scientific theory to raise the banner and set the direction. In the New Era, establishing the Party’s leadership core and maintaining its authority, while creating a scientific theory and adopting it as the Party’s guiding ideology, is the fundamental guarantee for the development of the Party and state’s cause. The core is the soul and the strength; the theory is the banner and the direction. The "Two Establishments" represent the fundamental question of what banner the Party and state’s cause will hold, what path it will take, in what mental state it will proceed, and toward what goals it will move forward. The "Two Establishments" guarantee the direction of the socialist cause, manifest the significant advantages of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and ensure that the cause of the Party and the state does not drift off course, lose its way, or waver, but always moves forward in the right direction.

The "Two Establishments" determine the process of the great dream.

The great dream originates from the core's pilotage and scientific guidance. Realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is the Party's goal of struggle and the common dream of hundreds of millions of Chinese sons and daughters. The "Two Establishments" clarify that the great dream is pursued under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. History has repeatedly proven that practice lacking a leadership core and scientific theoretical guidance is destined to fail. Entering the New Era, the material guarantee for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is more substantial, the spiritual strength is more solid, and the confidence and capacity for development are more robust. At the same time, the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation cannot be realized easily with "the beating of drums and gongs" ^[10]; there must be a strong leadership core and scientific theoretical guidance. The "Two Establishments" provide a powerful political guarantee and a scientific theoretical guide for the cause of national rejuvenation, capable of stimulating and coalescing the majestic strength of the masses to jointly realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The "Chinese Dream," as the figurative expression of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, has found the "greatest common denominator" ^[11] for the people of all ethnic groups to realize their dreams and has drawn the "largest concentric circle" ^[12] to converge people's hearts. Only by firmly supporting the "Two Establishments" can the goal be clear, the momentum inexhaustible, and the course correct in realizing the great dream.

Cultivating Practical Consciousness in Firmly Establishing the "Two Establishments"

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Maintaining consistency with the Party Central Committee is not an empty slogan, but a major political principle." As a political consensus, the "Two Establishments" should be transformed into the conceptual, political, and actionable consciousness of achieving the "Two Upholds." In specific work and on major political principles, we must unwaveringly uphold General Secretary Xi Jinping’s position as the core of the Party Central Committee and the core of the whole Party, and arm our minds with Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.

Fortifying the conceptual consciousness of supporting the "Two Establishments." Conceptual consciousness is the prerequisite for actionable consciousness; ideological identification leads specific actions. To fortify the ideological foundation of supporting the "Two Establishments," one must strengthen theoretical identification, stand firm on theoretical ground, and consolidate the theoretical foundation. First, the theoretical education of the "Two Establishments" must be strengthened. Combining the basic principles of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with China’s fine traditional culture ^[13] is the inherent requirement for consolidating the theoretical foundation of the "Two Establishments." Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is the theoretical product of these "Two Combinations," possessing powerful cultural genes, a theoretical basis, and practical might. Only by taking Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to heart and mind, and using it to guide specific work, can we consolidate the ideological basis for the whole Party's common struggle and form a conceptual force that converges hearts and minds. Second, one must dare to struggle against erroneous ideas. We must strengthen theoretical armament, combining the support for the "Two Establishments" with the development of the Party and state’s cause, with the performance of duties, the implementation of the spirit of the Party Central Committee, and the excellence in one's own role. We must resolutely oppose historical nihilism ^[14] and resolutely struggle against erroneous words and deeds that deny the Party’s leadership or the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Strengthening the political consciousness of firmly supporting the "Two Establishments." Firmly supporting the "Two Establishments" is the primary task of the Party’s political building in the New Era. Deeply grasping the decisive significance of the "Two Establishments" and resolutely achieving the "Two Upholds" hinges on enhancing political identification with the "Two Establishments." Only through political identification can one achieve inner faith and actionable consciousness. First, enhance political awareness. The "Two Establishments" are fundamental issues concerning the stability and direction of the Party and state’s cause. Fundamentally, they require the whole Party to maintain a high degree of consistency with the Party Central Committee in ideology, politics, and action, to resolutely uphold the authority and centralized, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee, to stand firm in political positions, to maintain political resolve, and to sincerely love the core emotionally, highly identify with the core ideologically, absolutely uphold the core politically, consciously obey the core organizationally, and closely follow the core in action. Second, strictly enforce political discipline. Political discipline is the yardstick for regulating intra-Party political life. Party members, especially leading cadres, must stress political rules and ensure they strictly abide by Party discipline and rules without overstepping. Since the 18th National Congress ^[15], the Party’s political rules have become stricter, providing a powerful disciplinary constraint for Party members and cadres to deeply grasp the decisive significance of the "Two Establishments" and resolutely achieve the "Two Upholds." Finally, maintain political loyalty. Political loyalty is the most basic political character of a Party member and the inevitable result of political faith. To firmly support the "Two Establishments" and resolutely achieve the "Two Upholds," one must always be loyal to the Party, the people, and Marxism, strengthening the political responsibility of sharing the Party's worries, performing duties for the Party, and creating benefits for the people—fortifying the foundation of faith, supplementing "spiritual calcium," ^[16] and holding steady the rudder of thought.

Enhancing the actionable consciousness of supporting the "Two Establishments." Firmly supporting the "Two Establishments" and resolutely achieving the "Two Upholds" must yield real results through practice. First, a public opinion atmosphere supporting the "Two Establishments" must be created throughout society. Promoting the formation of a public opinion landscape that upholds the leadership core and the guiding ideology is an important way for the masses to transform their simple faith in the Party into conscious action. We should comprehensively utilize the advantages of new media to enhance the integrated education of mainstream social values and the "Two Establishments," promoting the popularization and dissemination of the "Two Establishments" thought, fortifying the security line for ideology, and providing a favorable environment for enhancing the actionable consciousness of supporting the "Two Establishments." Second, the actionable consciousness of the whole Party and society should be enhanced through leading cadres setting an example. As the "key minority," ^[17] leading cadres have a strong leading and demonstrative effect. Leading cadres must act as models and examples in actively supporting the "Two Establishments," setting a good example for the whole Party and society. Finally, the firm support for the "Two Establishments" must be substantiated into actual actions of serving the people. Party spirit and people-centeredness are highly unified; serving the people is the fundamental manifestation of the Party’s nature and purpose, and the fundamental method for winning the masses' recognition and support. To consolidate the mass base of the "Two Establishments," one must go deep among the masses, understand their thoughts, desires, and expectations, and solve the "urgent, difficult, and anxious" problems of the people, enhancing their sense of happiness and gain. Through practicing the Party’s mass line, we can enhance Party members' ideological identification and the people's emotional identification with the "Two Establishments."